Leon Edwards: Jorge Masvidal's 'day will come,' but first more pressing matters

SAN ANTONIO – Leon Edwards has never been a huge fan of trash talk. But after his last fight at UFC on ESPN+ 5, Edwards (17-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) found himself in one of the most intense extracurricular moments in recent UFC history.

Backstage following the event, the 27-year-old welterweight engaged in a war of words with the evening’s main-event victor, Jorge Masvidal. “Gambred” didn’t take lightly to Edwards’ talk and struck him in the face.

Saturday night will be a change of pace for Edwards as he will headline UFC on ESPN 4 against Rafael dos Anjos (29-11 MMA, 18-9 UFC), a fighter not known for his trash talk. UFC on ESPN 4 takes place Saturday at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. The card airs on ESPN.

When he spoke to reporters at a UFC on ESPN 4 pre-fight media day Thursday, Edwards conveyed his disdain for Masvidal, but said he’s still more focused on a title shot than a grudge match.

“My aim is to be world champion,” Edwards said. “I’m not chasing Masvidal. Like I said that fight will happen either next or after the title shot. That fight will happen down the line. My aim right now, my focus is to beat ‘RDA’ (on) Saturday night and then get to the rematch with Usman. But the Masvidal fight will happen.”

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The Jamaican-born U.K. resident later added, “Masvidal is a (expletive), and he did what he did, but his day will come. We’ll prove to the world he’s this ‘gangster’ he thinks that he is. We’ll prove to the world he’s a ‘gangster.’”

After everyone had calmed and Edwards returned home after the British event, Edwards realized how much buzz the squabble had garnered. His co-main event victory over Gunnar Nelson was so lost in the shuffle, Edwards joked it was like the fight never happened at all.

“It is weird, because even after the fight when I went home after the altercation, I felt like I didn’t have a fight that night – like I didn’t fight Gunnar Nelson,” Edwards said. “It was weird. I checked social media and there was nothing about me beating one of the best grapplers in the world. It’s like, ‘What the hell? I just fought before that.’ It’s a mad game and you’re taking it in stride and just enjoy the process and keep doing what you’re doing.”

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Smack talk, Twitter feuds, and backstage shoving matchups are a valuable commodities in today’s UFC. Edwards understands that. Despite this, Edwards hopes his actions will speak louder than words when it comes to the welterweight title picture.

“It’s a hard game because it’s the more you speak, it’s probably the more you get,” Edwards said. “You get bumped up to the title shot. So, I don’t know. It’s a weird game we’re in. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. I’ll control what I can control. I go out there, I win. That’s it. I’ll take it from there. I don’t want to be like Tony Ferguson. I want to get to a title shot and I want to fight for the title.”